EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University's stellar sweeper Sean Stewart has been selected on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division II All-America men's soccer team, it was announced Monday.

Stewart was chosen on the second team as one of the 33 players honored from the 1,870 starters on the nation's 170 Division II soccer teams. The selections were made under an NSCAA rating system which takes into account voting by opposing coaches, a team's record and its strength of schedule.

The All-Americas will be honored at a banquet at the annual National Soccer Coaches Convention Saturday, January 19 at 12 noon in the Philadelphia Convention Center.

The junior from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica is the school's 25th All-America men's soccer player and ninth under Coach Jerry Sheska. The last was forward Pat Stanco in 1999.

Stewart led the Warriors to an 16-5-1 record, its fifth straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II tournament. He previously has been chosen on the All-PSAC first team for the third straight year and the All-Northeast Regional team for the second time.

"Other coaches recognize his ability and his contributions to our team," said Jerry Sheska, ESU men's soccer coach. "He's in charge for us out on the field both physically and verbally."

Stewart was excited about the All-America honor, but commented:

"It's always nice to get awards, but I'd rather the team had made the Final Four and had a chance for the national championship."

Last season, the Warriors reached the Final Four with two NCAA playoff victories before losing to Barry, 2-1, in the semi-finals. This year, they lost to Dowling, 2-0, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Stewart feels that becoming an All-America will benefit him for next year.

"It'll make me work even harder to live up to the honor and help the team win the national championship," he said.

Stewart was the anchor of an ESU defense which allowed only 21 goals in 21 games. He also scored three goals and had one assist. He was named the outstanding defensive player at the Kiwanis-ESU Soccer Classic for the second time.

A three-year starter, Stewart has led the Warriors to a 62-11-2 record during his career. He was selected to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team last year and was named the outstanding player in the PSAC championship game as a freshman in 1999.

The complete NSCAA Division II All-America team follows:

First Team: Goalie Thom Peer, Wisconsin-Parkside; backs Joe Cartlidge, Cal State-Dominguez Hills; Vincent Kwarula, Southern Connecticut; John Thompson, Lewis; midfielders George Haba, Dowling; Sean Lockhart, Cal-State Dominguez Hills; Justin McMillian, SIU-Edwardsville; forwards Luiz Araujo, Grand Canyon; Davy Arnaud, West Texas A and M; Roy Fink, Tampa; Anthony Maher, Mercyhurst.

Second Team: Goalie Tobias Svantesson, Southern New Hampshire; backs Sean Stewart, East Stroudsburg; Tim Karalexis, St. Anselm; Justin Trevorrow, Wisconsin-Parkside; midfielders Neil Holloway, Wheeling, Scott Montgomery, Lander; Khano Smith, Lees McRae; forwards Chris Bagley, St. Anselm; Joel Bagley, Wheeling; Barry Gibney, Christian Brothers; Curt Slaughter, Fort Lewis.

Third Team: Goalie Jorges Geddes, West Virginia Wesleyan; backs Jacobi Goodfellow, Barry; Greg Jehs, Barry; David Johnson, Queens, N.C.; midfielders Oliver Carias, Queens, N.C.; Ricardo Lara, Incarnate Word; Lance Snodgrass, Regis; forwards Alen Marcina, Barry; Mikko Kotilainen, Lander; Gabriel Valencia, Cal State-Dominguez Hills; Tony Thomas, Metro State.

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